Frequently Asked Questions
These are among the most frequently asked questions on the Ultima Linux Support Forums, among other sources.
| NOTE | The original FAQ page (before June 24, 2008) has been moved to Old FAQ. |
Contents |
General Questions
Does Ultima Linux support <feature>?
That depends on what <feature> is. Feel free to ask us on the forums. As a general rule, hardware support depends on what we (the developers) have available at the time – other devices probably do work, but we can only guarantee what we’ve personally tested. Software depends largely on the developers’ own needs and the amount of user demand.
Will you add <feature> to Ultima Linux?
Again, you will need to ask us. What we add to Ultima Linux depends largely on both user demand (both our own and our users’), and how much we can test it, among other factors – a complete answer would be too lengthy to discuss here.
Where can I find support for Ultima Linux?
Almost all technical support is through the Ultima Linux Support Forums. In extreme cases – where sensitive information is involved, or for urgent queries – you can e-mail the developers directly (info@ultimalinux.com), but e-mail is strongly discouraged for “everyday” support requests.
Where can I find documentation for Ultima Linux?
This wiki is the “official” documentation source, although it is massively incomplete. (Feel free to add anything you might know.) Good places to start are – or will be, anyway – the Main Page and our “ebook,” The Definitive Ultima Linux. Most programs in Ultima Linux also come with built-in documentation, such as man pages, or the text files in /usr/doc/.
Because Ultima Linux is very similar to Slackware (among other distributions), the vast majority of Slackware resources can also be applied to Ultima Linux with little to no significant alterations. Slackware Linux Essentials might be a good start.
Why another distribution when there are so many?
Our project started in 2004, when there were only around 300 distros (not the 400+ you see today). Most of them were legitimate, too – not the cheap trash you see that changes Ubuntu’s wallpaper and calls it a completely new system – or, for that matter, that changes Debian’s wallpaper and calls it five completely new systems. We’ve continued since then because we think our product is better, and because we’re determined to fix it if it’s not.
Ultima Linux takes distribution development very seriously, and yes, we are in it for the long run.
Distribution/Downloads
How is Ultima Linux licensed?
The Ultima Linux distribution as a whole is considered to be under the GNU General Public License, version 2, as this is the most commonly-used software license in the distribution. Individual software packages within the distribution, however, may have their own software licenses (you can usually find this in a file called COPYING or LICENSE in the package’s directory under /usr/doc/). Individual software packages follow their own respective licenses, not necessarily the GPL.
There is one additional restriction: Commercial redistribution of Ultima Linux binaries (this includes package sets and ISO images) requires the permission of the Ultima Linux developers. This is mainly intended to prevent CD retailers such as LinuxCd.org (see below) from profiting unfairly without compensating us for our work.
Most of the copyright/license terms are detailed in the COPYRIGHT.txt file on the Ultima Linux FTP site.
May I mirror the Ultima Linux files on my Web site?
If you have the disk space and bandwidth for over six gigabytes of files per release, then absolutely yes. (If you don’t have the disk space/bandwidth, we recommend against it, but there’s no legal reason you can’t try if you want to!) However, you must include the complete source code for all files mirrored, as per the GPL.
May I burn copies of Ultima Linux and give them to my friends?
Yes, please do – besides, our plans for world domination mostly spread by word of mouth anyway. Of course, the GPL zealots will no doubt require us to say you must tell them where to get the source code (hint: http://www.ultimalinux.com is a good place to start).
May I sell copies of Ultima Linux commercially?
If you are selling Ultima Linux for profit, you must contact the Ultima Linux developers first to request permission. Generally speaking we will not authorize vendors to sell our product if they do not contribute back to our project (after all, it is unfair that others solely profit from our work).
I saw a site selling Ultima Linux CD’s. Are they for real?
If the site is listed on the Get Ultima! page, they are likely authorized to sell Ultima Linux products. However, there are also sites purporting to sell Ultima Linux CD’s and other merchandise without our permission or authorization. Be aware that unauthorized distributors may not be distributing the authentic Ultima Linux product.
Software Installation/Upgrades
How can I install new software?
The easiest way is to use Gslapt, found under K Menu → System in KDE. It comes pre-configured for the Ultima package repository, so all you need to do is press “Update” to get the latest lists.
The LiveCD locks up when I try to upgrade...
You cannot upgrade the distribution when running in “live” mode (from a CD, DVD, USB drive, “frugal install,” or similar). This functionality is only intended for normal hard disk installations. For “live” systems, the best way to upgrade is to download the latest LiveCD (or you can make your own).
Also remember that beta releases generally contain newer software than the default “stable” repository.
How do I install development tools on a LiveCD installation?
The following trick should work at a terminal:
multima@evilblah:~$ sudo su root@evilblah:/home/multima# slapt-get --update; slapt-get --install gcc gcc-g++ glibc binutils make kernel-headers
| NOTE | This is mainly for use after installing to hard disk. You will likely run out of memory if you attempt this while running “live,” unless you’re using a LiveUSB drive with a large writeback partition. |
User Accounts
Why isn’t there a default root password?
Ultima Linux 8.3 and older releases do not have a default root password simply because we forgot to implement one. Starting with Ultima Linux 8.4, a root password can be set on system boot using the rootpass LiveCD cheatcode, although this is not enabled by default (as it requires manual intervention in the boot process).
While logged in as root (or any other account), you can create or change the login password in the KDE Control Center, under Security & Privacy → Password & User Account. From the command line, it’s even faster: su -c passwd.
Why does the default user account have passwordless sudo access?
Unlike the blank root password, passwordless sudo is a deliberate feature. Most home users probably need root access a lot more than they think – installing software, accessing hardware devices, even setting the clock – and one of the developer’s own pet peeves is having to enter a password every time this is required.
You can change the sudo configuration by opening a terminal and running the command visudo. The default sudo configuration varies depending on the Ultima release. In Ultima Linux 8.3, the default account is explicitly listed as having sudo privileges; in both 8.3 and 8.4, the wheel group has full passwordless sudo, and the users group has passwordless sudo for KDE applications (i.e. to kdesu) only.
Can I rename the default user account?
In Ultima Linux 8.4, you can rename the default user account from the LiveCD boot prompt using the username= option; for example, linux username=multima.
Technical Questions
On what distribution is Ultima based?
None; Ultima Linux is independently developed, and starting with version 8.4, uses an entirely original codebase.
Previous versions of Ultima Linux were based on Slackware; Ultima Linux 8.0.1 was built from a forked -current tree, and 8.1beta and newer used a heavily-patched refork from around April 2006. Current Ultima releases still use a small amount of Slackware code, mainly the package management tools (pkgtools).
A large amount of the AMD64 code in 8.1beta through 8.3 was based on Slamd64.
What sources does Ultima <version> follow?
Ultima Linux generally follows upstream development – i.e. the original developers. Some packages use an older version, either because it is “known stable” (such as the Linux kernel); newer versions have unacceptable dependencies and/or incompatibilities (some system libraries); or simply because we prefer the older version (Mozilla Firefox, KDE).
A very few packages are wholly original code – such as the init scripts, xorgmaker, and the ultima-scripts. The Wolvix Control Panel is presently the only outright fork; the Ultima version uses a significantly enhanced LiveCD installer, with features such as a cleaner interface and disk encryption support, although most of the actual “control panel” functionality is admittedly lacking (since most of this is provided through other packages).
Miscellaneous Questions
<any question about the DistroWatch page>
The description on Ultima Linux’s DistroWatch.com page was not written by the Ultima developers; it was written by DistroWatch’s maintainer circa 2005. It reads in full:
- Ultima Linux is a Slackware-based Linux distribution designed to be easy-to-install and use. It includes an automatic update tool called "ulupdate", which greatly simplifies keeping the system up-to-date with the latest software.
The “Slackware-based” part was true at the time, but has changed since our move to a wholly new, original codebase. As far as “easy to install and use,” I am not sure where that came from (it was originally intended as a techie-oriented system); any long-term Ultima user will tell you horror stories about the installer – in our opinion, often the worst part for users – although this has been better in recent releases with the Wolvix Control Panel.
Ulupdate was a relatively minor feature, and really more hype than any real function. It was kludged together after a summer spent upgrading old Windows machines from Microsoft&rsquoo;s update service; it was never really maintained, and has been discontinued outright since February 2008 in favor of the far superior slapt-get and a proper package repository.
We have asked DistroWatch to update the description, but we see no reason to press the issue: They have been extremely helpful to us over the last few years, and we find there are more important things to concern ourselves over than this relative triviality.
UltimaLinux.com Website
Why am I getting an SSL certificate error?
You are likely accessing a secure URL via an https link, such as https://www.ultimalinux.com. Our site uses a self-signed certificate, which essentially means we alone are vouching for our own identity and trustworthiness. If you don’t trust our security – and that is, after all, entirely your own choice – simply reject the certificate and don’t use the secure URL.
What parts of the site require secure access?
Nothing on UltimaLinux.com requires secure access – you can access everything over the standard (non-secure) HTTP protocol.
UltimaLinux.com provides SSL support primarily for two reasons: (a) for an added layer of security when posting content – for example, on the forums and wiki – and (b) to demonstrate Ultima Linux’s support for running a secure site (our server runs, of course, on Ultima Linux). We do not manage financial transactions or collect any personal information on this site; if such services are necessary, they will be handled by an established external service.
What runs the UltimaLinux.com site?
Our server runs on Ultima Linux (currently the x86 Edition). Most of the software used is included with the distribution – Apache HTTPD, PHP, MySQL, among others – and the site itself is a mixture of MediaWiki, phpBB, and a lot of custom code (for example, Überpage).
For bandwidth reasons the actual distribution code is hosted externally. Our primary FTP site – used for the distribution ISO’s, as well as the package repository – is hosted courtesy of ibiblio.
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